Photo Gallery: Merle Haggard Through the Years

Although “The Fugitive” is one of the few Merle Haggard hits that he didn’t personally write, much of his life might be captured in the familiar lyrics, “Down every road there’s always one more city.”

The Country Music Hall of Fame member died Wednesday (April 6) at age 79. Canceling and rescheduling concert dates after being hospitalized in December with double pneumonia, Haggard was an unrepentant road warrior who thrived on touring and performing. Along the way, he became a friend and an inspiration to countless country singers, songwriters and musicians, but he also rubbed shoulders with presidents, shared stages with Keith Richards and Jerry Lee Lewis and became a Kennedy Honors recipient alongside Paul McCartney and Oprah Winfrey.

Here’s a look at some of the people he encountered during a colorful career that’s likely to be unmatched by any future country artist.

Visiting President Richard Nixon at the White House in 1970

Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Sharing a Moment With Loretta Lynn

Ebet Roberts/Redferns

Hanging Out Backstage With Johnny Paycheck in 1980

Kirk West/Getty Images

Backstage With Vince Gill and Actress Jane Seymour at the 1994 ACM Awards

Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage

Spending Couch Time on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno in 1996

NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

On the Set of the Video Shoot for Marty Stuart’s 2003 Single, “Farmer’s Dream”